Method of testing watch-balances and hair-springs



(No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 1-. G. E. HUNTER, METHOD OF TESTING WATGH BALANCES AND HAIR SPRINGS.

Patented Jan. 17, 1893 (Ho lie deli 10 Sheets-Sheet 3.

, G. E. HUNTER. METHUD 0F TESTING WATCH BALANCES AND HAIR SPRINGS. No. 490,203. Patented Jan. 17, 1893.

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G. E; HUNTER; METHOD or TESTING WATCH BALANCES AND HAIR SPRINGS.

No. 490,203, Patented Jan. 17, 1393,

(No'lod-el.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 5.

G. E. HUNTER. METHOD OF TESTING WATCH BALANCES AND HAIR SPRINGS.

Patented Jan. 17,1893.-

(Ho Hodel.) 1o Sheets-Sheet 6.'

. G. E. HUNTER. METHOD OF TESTING WATCH BALANCES AND HAIR SPRINGS.

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G E HUNTER METHOD OF TESTING WATCH BALANOES- AND-HAIR SPRINGS.

Patented Jan. 17, 1893.

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10 Sheets-Shet s.

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G. B. HUNTER. METHOD OFTESTING WATCH BALANCES AND HAIR SPRINGS.

Patented Jan. 17, 1893.

(No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 9.

G. E HUNTER; METHOD OF TESTING WATCH BALANGES AND HAIR SPRINGS. No. 490,203. Patented Jan. 17, 1893.

(Nb'ModeL) 10 Sheets-Sheet 10.

G. E. HUNTER. METHOD OF TESTING WATCH BALANCES AND HAIR SPRINGS.

Patented Jan. 17, 1893..

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GEORGE E. HUNTER, OF ELGIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELGIN NATIONAL VVATGH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METHOD OF TESTING WATCH-BALANCES AND HAIR-SPRlNGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 490,203, dated January 17, 1893.

Application filed July 2, 1892. $e1'ial No. 438,779. (No model.)

To all? whom it may concern; the same showing said device when released Be it known that I, GEORGE E. HUNTER, of by the hands-setting lever before setting the Elgimin the county of Kane, and in the State hands to zero. of Illinois, have invented certain new and Letters of like name and kind refer to like 5 useul Improvements in Methods of. Testing parts throughout the several figures.

Watch-Balances and Hair-Springs; and I do My invention relates to the timing and adhereby declare that the following is a full, justing of watch balances and hair springs clear, and exact description thereof, reference before the same are placed in watch movebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in ments, and such invention consists in the to which process employed, substantially as and for Figure 1 is a plan view of my apparatus in the purpose hereinafter specified. which is shown the relative arrangement of In the carrying of my invention into pracparts and the electric circuits connecting the tice there is necessary a mechanism for visame; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the operating brating a balance, or hair spring, an indicat- 15 mechanism of the vibrator employed the top ing or registering mechanism, a time mechanof the casing being removed; Fig. 3 is a cenism and certain electrical appliances whereby tral longitudinal section of said vibrator upon the said mechanisms may be placed in operaline cc-cc of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross section tion and caused to co-operate so as tofurnish of the same upon line w-sa of Figs. 2 and accurate data as to the action of the parts be- 2o 3. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the baling tested. Various forms and construction ance arbor and shows the arrangement of of mechanical appliances may be employed, parts when hair springs are to be tested; Fig. but it will sufficiently illustrate my invention 6 is a plan view in outline of the locking and to show the operation of the mechanism prefreleasing mechanisms when the vibrating erably used, commencing with the vibrator, 25 mechanism is looked from motion; Fig. 7 is which is contained within a casing that is a like view of the same after the balance composed of a base section A and a top secstaff has been released; Fig. 8 is an enlarged tion A that fits upon and is secured to the side elevation of the contact springs which same, such casing having top, bottom and are engaged by the contact pin of the balance sides, and rounded ends. 8 o staif; Figs. 9 and 10 are, respectively, views Midway between the base and top sections, of the locking plate of the fourth arbor and A and A, respectively, is a plate B which is of the detent actuated thereby, separated arranged parallel with said parts, and between from each other; Fig. 11 is a plan view of the the same and said base are journaled the parts mechanism used for actuatingthe pawl shaft; of an ordinary time train that consists of a 35 Figs. 12 and 13 are respectively front and main arbor O that has a toothed wheel 0 and side elevations of the same; Fig. l l is a peris caused to rotate by means of a weight-actuspective view of the registering mechanism ated drum, 2. second arbor D having a pinion preferably used; Fig. 15 is a plan view of the d and a toothed wheel cl, a third arborE prosame; Fig. 1b is a like view of said mechanvided with a pinion e and toothed wheel .9, a 4o ism from the upper side with the top of the fourth arborF having a pinionfand toothed casing removed; Fig. 17 is a plan view of the wheel), a fifth arbor G provided with a pinlower side ofthe same; Fig. 18 isalongitudinal ion g and escape wheel g a sixth arbor H carsection upon line y-y of Figs.15, 16, and 17; rying a pallet lever h and a balance arbor or Fig. 19 is a plan view in outline of the arreststaff I which staff is journaled within said 5 5 ing and releasing mechanism when occupylower section, extends through said plate, and ing its normal or locked position; Fig. 20 is a has its upper end journaled in a bridge K like View of the same when the registering that is secured upon the latter. train is free to move; Fig. 21 is a section upon When used for testing balances, the staff I line N-y of Fig. 20 and shows the locking is provided with a standard hair spring L I00 50 device in engagement with the main wheel of that is located below the bridge K, and upon its the register train; Fig. 22 is a like view of upper pivot carries a crotch i that is adapted to receive a balance M, and support the same in proper position, when it becomes a part of and completes the time train. hen the vibrator is employed for testing hair springs a standard balance is secured upon said staff below said bridge, and the upper end of the latter adapted to receive a hair spring L.

When a spring or balance has been placed in position it. is desired that the balance staff should be capable of instantvibration,and that when it has vibrated a predetermined number of times, it shall complete an electric circuit at the point from which it started. To effect this there is seen red to said staff, above the plate B, a radial pin 71', and within the plane of vibration of such pin are two flat springs N and N that are secured upon one end of a lever O which is pivotednear its opposite end and is adapted to be moved upon its pivot so as to causesaid springs to be placed within the track of said pin, or to remove them from such track. Said springs are the terminals of an electric circuit and are arranged with their outer ends nearly parallel and separated by a distance less than the diameter of said pin so that when they are moved inward, the latter will pass between and engage with said springs, closing the circuit and arresting the motion of the balance staff.

The lever O is held. normally in position to arrest motion of the balance staff I by means 7 of a spring P that is arranged to engage with and press outward upon its rear end but is moved to the opposite limit of its motion by means of a shaft Q which is journaled vertically within the base section A and plate B and at its upper end is provided with a pawl q that when such shaft is rotated in one direction is adapted to engage with the rear end of said lever and move the same inward, while when said shaft is rotated in an opposite direction said pawl will trip over said lever end. Said shaft is held at the rearward limit of its rotary motion by means of a radially arranged spring q, and is moved in an opposite direction by an armature g which is secured radially upon the shaft and is acted upon by two electro-magnets R and R that are suitably arranged with reference thereto. When the lever O has been moved to position to release the balance staff, it is locked in such position by means of a detent S that is pivoted upon a bridge T near the center or fourth arbor F and at one end is provided with a notch s which is adapted to engage with a pin 0 that projects upward from said lever. The shape of the notch is such as to cause the pin to automatically move said detent into position for engagement as said lever is turned to release the balance staff. At the completion of the predetermined number ofvibrations of the balance staff the detent S is released from engagement with the pin 0 and the lever 0 automatically returns to its normal position and thus causes the springs N and N to engage with the pin i and arrest the motion of said staff. Such release is effected by means of a plateUwhich is secured I upon and rotates with the fourth arbor F and is provided with a pin to, that, at the desired instant, engages with a similar pin 8' upon said detent and moves the latterin the direction necessary for disengagement from said pin 0. At the instant when the lever 0 returns to its normal position a shoulder a upon the plate U engages with a lug 0 upon said lever and operates to arrest the motion of the time train and to thus relieve the balance staff from all injurious shock or strain. In order that the engagement between said plate and lever may be effected at the precise instant. desired, a cylindrical plate V is fastened upon the arbor F upon which said plate U is fitted so as to embrace about three fourths of its periphery, and beheld thereon by friction. One side of the plateU is made open as shown, and is provided with two arms a and a between which is placed a screw WV that has its ends in engagement with the contiguous faces of said ends and its threaded body contained within a threaded lug i) which isformed upon and extends radially from said plate V. As thus arranged, by turning said screw it will be moved lengthwise through saidboss and cause said plate U to be turned upon said plate V so as to change the position of the shoulder a with relation 'to the arbor F.

The springs N and N, not only act asstops to arrest the motion of the balance arbor, but also as circuit closers, for which purpose the 'lower, spring is insulated from the other and connected electrically with an insulated binding post X by a wire 00, while the upper spring is secured directly upon the lever O and through the same and the casing, or by any usual means, is in connection with a second binding post X. As thus arranged it will be seen that when the pin 2' passes between the ends of said springs an electric connection is instantly produced.

The registering mechanism is inclosed within a casing Y which has theform shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 16 and is supported and secured upon a hollow base Z that in turn rests upon and is attached to a bench or other suitable support. Within said casing is journaled a vertical, lrollow arbor A which upon its upper end carries a hand a that by the rotation of said arbor will be caused to move over a circular dial B which is secured upon the upper side of the casing and is provided with fifty equal divisions b, b, &c. Within said hollow arbor is journaled an arbor C which extends downward into the hollow base Z and upon its upper end has secured a hand 0 that is longer than said hand a and when said arbor is rotated travels over a second series of divisions b, b, &c., numbered from 1 to 100 which are provided upon said dial.

Journaled at one side of and parallel with the arbors A and C is an arbor D that carries a toothed wheel 01 and a pinion d, the first of which parts meshes with and receives motion from a pinion c that is secured upon said arbor C while said pinion d meshes with and imparts motion to a toothed wheel a which is carried by said arbor A the relative dimensions of said pinions and wheels being such as to cause the shorter hand a to move forward one degree for each complete rotation of the longer hand 0. The engagement between the pinion c and the arbor O and the wheel a and the arbor A is produced by friction so that each arbor is capable of being independently turned in order to set the hands at zero. This is effected by means of two heart-shaped cams a and c which are secured, respectively, upon said arbors A and C and are simultaneously acted upon by the arms 2 and e of a lever E that is journaled within the casing and operated by means of a knob e that projects through aslot y in the upper side of the casing Y.

The register mechanism is driven by any suitable motor through the arbor C for which purpose there is secured to the lower projecting end of the latter a toothed wheel 0 that is adapted to be engaged by an intermediate toothed wheel F which is pivoted upon one end of a pivoted bar G and is in constant engagement with a motor driven wheel H the arrangement being such as to enable said wheels 0 and F to be engaged or disengaged by the movement of said bar upon its pivotal bearing. The bar G, is by means of a spring g held normally in such position as to cause the wheels c' and F to be disengaged and is moved in an opposite direction by means of an armature I which is secured to an arm g that extends laterally from said bar. Said armature is moved by means of an electro-magnet K in the usual way, but for purposes hereinafter stated, each coil of such magnet is made double, so that when currents of electricity having equal strength are passing at the same time and in opposite directionsv through the wires they will neutralize each other and produce no magnetism, but if one current is interrupted, then the other current will act with full efiect and the armature will be attracted.

It is necessary that the registering mechanism shall be locked from movement when not intentionally caused to operate, for which purpose there is employed a detent L that is arranged to be moved vertically into and out of engagement with the teeth of the wheel o of the arbor O and by spring pressure, is held normally at the upper limit of its motion in engagement with said wheel. When the hands are being set at zero, said detentis moved out of engagement by means of an inclined portion of the arm a of the cam lever E which arm passes over the end of said detent and moves the same downward j ust before the im pinging of the arm 2 upon the cam 0 As To permit of the disengagement of said detent at the instant a connection is made between the motor and registering mechanism, it is secured upon and supported by the arm 9 of the bar G and with such arm-is moved horizontally away from the wheel 0 by the action of the electro-magnet upon the armature I.

In order that it may be indicated which of the two currents sets the registering mechanism into operation there is pivoted at one end within one end of the casing Y, a bar M which upon its opposite, free end carries a plate or dial m that by movement of said lever upon its pivotal bearing may be caused to move horizontally to a limited distance beneath a glazed opening y in the top of said casing. Upon such dial are the conventional signs for the terms plus and minus (-1- and and by the movement of said bar to the limit of its motion in either direction, one or the other of said signs will be brought into sight.

Two electro-magnets N and N are provided to act upon the bar M, one of which magnets is placed upon each side thereof, near its pivoted end and opposite to an armature carried by it. Each of these coils forms part of one of the electric circuits of the magnet K and it will be obvious that, whichever coil, (N or N receives the current first, it will be able to hold the bar ll in opposition to the magnetism induced by a current of the same strength in the other coil. The sign exposed on the plate m will indicate, then,the circuit first closed. Another portion of the system is a polarized relay 0 which has the usual construction and is connected electricallythrough a standard clock P-with a battery Q, so as to enable such clock to control and cause its armature o to close or open either of two circuits and thus connect either of two sets of registers with another battery R.

The mechanisms described may occupy any desired relative posit-ions, but as shown in Fig. 1, the arrangement is preferably as follows, viz: Two or more vibrators for each set are arranged side by side upon a suitable support, and alike number of registers is located conveniently near, preferably upon the opposite side of a bench or table. Midway between said vibrators and registers is placed the polarized relay, a double switch S having two levers s and s is placed in front of said relay, a circuit closer '1" having two keys t and i is next in order and a switch U having a single lever u is placed in front of said circuit closer. The standard clock P has a mercurial contact mechanism 19' at the lower end of its pendulum which operates to connect electrically with a battery Q, the magnets R and R that actuate the pawl shafts 1 Q and Q of oneset of vibrators, such connection being made through the switch S and circuit closer T as shown in Fig. 1, and for convenience being designated No. 1. From the switch a, second circuit, No. 2,- branches off fromNo. 1 and extends to each of'the magnet coils of, the relay 0, by whichmeansa current from the batteryQ' may-be caused to pass through either of said coils and thus move the armature to cause its contact piecev o to close a; third circuitNo. 3, which circuit No. 3, is formed by a wire that extends from the battery R, to the relay 0' where it is connected with one of thefixed contacts. 0 and 0 of said relay and with; the contact of of its armature, and from thence passesrto andincludes the magnet K, of each register of the set and from thence throughthe switch U back again to-said'battery, while a fourthcircuit No. 4 extendsfrom the bats tery B through the switchU to the registers, then aroundthe coils of each magnet, thence to each vibrator, and from thence back to said battery, the arrangement being such that,

eachregister is connected electrically withv one vibrator of the set so thatwhile the same; circuit is employed for all of each set, the:ac-. tion of each is independent of the others. The operator now places balances or. hair springs in position in one set of vibrators, and then manipulates the key t of the circuit closer T which causes the next beat of the clock to send a current. through the clock circuit N o. 1' so as to release thetime train of each vibrator; and perinitithe same to instantly commence movement, after which, by means of the switch U, the battery R is thrown into circuit upon the same sideof the apparatus in readiness for use when needed; Just before the expiration of one minute the operator moves the lever s of the switch S so as to connect the clock with the relay by circuit No.,2when the last beat of the min utefrom said clock sends a current from the battery Q through the magnet coils of said relay and closes the circuit No. 3 between the battery R and the registers upon that side through the contact 0 of said relay.

If either of the balances, or hair springs be ing tested, is slow, the hands of the connected registerwill instantly commence to turn and will continue in motion until the balance has completed three hundred vibrations, when the contact springs N and N will be moved into engagement with the pin of the balance staff and closing circuit No. 4 between the vibrator and register will neutralize the current of circuit N o. 3 upon the magnets of said register and operate to instantly arrest the motion of its hands. The position of said bands will indicate the number of seconds of variation of the balance, or spring in twenty fourhou rs and the appearance of the or minus sign will show that said balance or spring is slow.

Should a balance or. spring be fast the vifb-Ita-tor controlled circuit No. 4 will be closed at the expiration of the time required for the ;balance to make three hundred vibrations, land the hands ofthe register will be instantly istartedz and continue totrun until their moit'ion isarrested. by the clock circuit No. 3 at gthe expiration of one minute, when the or iplus sign will be show-mandv the position of jsaid register hands will indicate the number 30f seconds-which the balance or springis fast ;in twenty four hours. If the balance or @spring be perfect, their it will complete its ithree hundred vibrations exactly in a minute iand accordingly the vibrator controlled cirgcuit will be closed simultaneously with. the iclock-controlled circuit, and since the two Ecur-rentsfiowing through the coils of the mag- ;nets K, and K will neutralize each other,othe registerw-ill notibeqset. in motion.

'Iheapparatus shown and described is not iclaimedhereimbut is made the subject matter of; a separate application filed by me of even date herewith and; having Serial No. 438,778.

Having thusdescribed my invention what I claim is 1;, The methodof testing balances and hair springs whichv consists in vibratingthe same the number of: times that a standard balance orspring would vibratein a definite interval of time, in unison with a standard time piece and employing in connection therewith an indicating mechanism that. is actuated only when the balance or; spring varies from the standard, substantially'as and for the purpose specified.

2,. The method of testing balances and hair springs whichconsistsin vibrating the same the number of. times thata standard balance or spring would vibrate in a definite interval of time, innnison with astandard time piece and employing in connection therewith an indicating mechanism that is put.- in operation when the balance orspringis fast upon the completion of the number of vibrations, and is stopped at the expiration of the interval of time, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The method of testingbalances and hair springs which consists in vibrating the same the number of'times that a standard balance or spring would vibrate in a definite interval of time, in unison with a standard time piece, and employing in connection therewith an indicating mechanism, that is put in operation when the balance or spring is slow upon the completion of the interval of time, and stopped-when the number of vibrations has been made, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

4. The method of testing balances and hair springs which consists in vibrating the same the number of times that a standard balance or spring would vibrate in a definite interval of time, in unison with a standard time piece, and employing in connection therewith an indicating mechanism which is actuated only when the balance is fast or slow, and whose action is oommenged in the former instance upon the completion of the number of vibrations and stopped at the expiration of the intervalof time, and in the latter instance, is commenced at the conclusion of the interval 1c of time and stopped when the number of vibrations has been made, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set inyhand this 23d day of May, 1892.

GEORGE E. HUNTER.

Witnesses:

GEO. S. PRINDLE, W. H. CLOUDMAN. 

